Heirloom

King Size Apricot

Callistephus chinensis

Photo: Shivam · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Harvest

110-120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for King Size Apricot in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

King Size Apricot · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

WaterRegular

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorLight apricot

Size2 1/2-3"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Succession Planting

King Size Apricot runs 110-120 days to bloom, so you're not stacking multiple successions the way you would with lettuce. In zone 7, start the first round indoors in late February, transplant in late April, and expect blooms in late August. A second round started indoors in mid-March and transplanted in mid-May will finish in September or early October — right before first frost typically arrives. Don't push direct sowing past early June; anything started later won't accumulate enough growing days before cold shuts things down.

If you're cutting for a specific event, skip the second round entirely and just back-calculate from your target date. Asters don't reliably rebloom after a hard cut the way zinnias do, so trying to squeeze a second flush from the same plant usually produces a handful of smaller, weaker stems rather than a second real show.

Complete Growing Guide

2 1/2-3" double and semidouble, light apricot-colored flowers. Compared to Tower Chamois, King Size Apricot plants are taller and equally as productive, blooms are similar in size and a shade lighter with a warmer (creamier yellow) tone, and petals are only slightly curled (whereas Tower Chamois' petals are heavily curled inward toward the center of the bloom). According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, King Size Apricot is 110 - 120 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

King Size Apricot reaches harvest at 110 - 120 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2 1/2-3" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruit is a rough-textured, glandular, purple-mottled cypsela that turns gray with age.

Storage & Preservation

King Size Apricot flowers are best enjoyed fresh and should be stored in a cool environment. Keep cut flowers in a vase with fresh water in a cool room (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight and ripening fruits, which release ethylene gas. Change water every 2-3 days; flowers typically last 5-10 days. For preservation, air-dry flower petals by hanging bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 1-2 weeks, creating dried botanicals for crafts. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under heavy books for 2-3 weeks for flat specimens suitable for scrapbooking or herbals. Edible petals can be frozen in ice cubes with water for decorative use in beverages.

History & Origin

King Size Apricot is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: China and Southern Russia

Advantages

+Produces abundant 2.5-3 inch double flowers with beautiful warm apricot tone
+Taller plant habit provides excellent cut flower stems for arrangements
+Light apricot color remains consistently reliable across growing seasons
+Easy to grow variety suitable for beginner and experienced gardeners
+Slightly curled petals create attractive natural appearance versus heavily crimped forms

Considerations

-Longer 110-120 day maturity requires extended growing season in cool climates
-Tall plants may require staking support in windy garden locations
-Aster wilt and powdery mildew can affect plant health in humid conditions

Companion Plants

Lavender and chives pull their weight near King Size Apricot because their volatile sulfur compounds and aromatic oils disorient the aphids and thrips that home in on aster blooms. Marigolds — French types like 'Bonanza' in particular — add nematode suppression at the root zone and draw in hoverflies that knock back aphid colonies before they get a foothold. Sweet alyssum sown between rows keeps bare soil shaded and moist, and its tiny flowers feed parasitic wasps that target caterpillar eggs. Around here in the southeast, where June through August can bake an unprotected bed, that ground-level canopy does real work keeping soil temperatures down a few degrees.

Black walnut is a hard no within 50 feet of this bed — juglone leaches from roots, hulls, and leaf litter and will stunt or kill Callistephus outright, often before you figure out the cause. Give sunflowers at least 3-4 feet of separation too; they're aggressive water competitors at the root zone and tend to host the same aster leafhoppers that carry aster yellows phytoplasma.

Plant Together

Lavender

Attracts beneficial pollinators and repels aphids with its strong fragrance

Marigolds

Natural pest deterrent, repels nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away from apricot flowers

Chives

Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects with sulfur compounds

Yarrow

Attracts predatory insects and improves soil health through deep root system

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps for natural pest control

Borage

Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while improving soil through deep taproot

Comfrey

Dynamic accumulator that improves soil fertility and attracts beneficial insects

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone, a natural herbicide that inhibits growth of many plants including fruit trees

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds can inhibit nearby plant growth and competes heavily for nutrients

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress growth of nearby plants

Troubleshooting King Size Apricot

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Stems collapse at soil level on young transplants or seedlings, plant tips over and dies quickly

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani) — soil-borne fungi that thrive in cool, wet, poorly-drained conditions
Overwatering or starting seeds in non-sterile potting mix

What to Do

1.Start seeds in a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil or reused potting mix
2.Water from below when possible and let the surface dry slightly between waterings
3.If it hits a whole tray, pull the affected seedlings, improve airflow with a small fan, and drench remaining cells with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (1 part 3% H2O2 to 9 parts water)

Leaves develop dark, water-soaked spots that turn brown and papery; spots may have a yellow halo

Likely Causes

Aster leaf spot (Septoria callistephi) — a fungal disease that spreads fastest in warm, humid weather above 70°F
Overhead watering or rain splash moving spores from soil to foliage

What to Do

1.Strip and bin the affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base; wet foliage overnight is asking for trouble
3.Space plants the full 18-24 inches apart so air moves through; crowded asters get this badly

Plants produce distorted, yellowed growth or fail to bloom past day 100 despite otherwise healthy conditions

Likely Causes

Aster yellows — a phytoplasma disease spread by the aster leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus)
Transplanting too late so summer heat peaks before buds can set

What to Do

1.Pull and dispose of any plant showing 'witches'-broom' growth or stunted, greenish petals — aster yellows has no cure and leafhoppers will keep moving it plant to plant
2.Cover transplants with row cover for the first 4-6 weeks to cut leafhopper access before plants get established
3.In zone 7, get transplants in the ground by early May so the 110-120 day countdown finishes before daytime highs lock in above 90°F

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do King Size Apricot flowers last after cutting?▼

Cut flowers typically last 5-10 days when kept in cool conditions. Place stems in fresh water in a cool room (65-72°F), away from direct sunlight and ripening fruits. Change the water every 2-3 days and remove any lower leaves that would sit below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth and extend vase life.

Is King Size Apricot a good flower variety for beginners?▼

Yes, King Size Apricot is an excellent choice for beginners. It's rated as easy difficulty and requires only full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). As a heirloom variety, it's reliable and productive. Its tall, sturdy plants produce abundant blooms with minimal special care, making it ideal for new gardeners.

Can you grow King Size Apricot flowers in containers?▼

Yes, King Size Apricot can be grown in containers. Use well-draining potting soil in containers with adequate drainage holes. Since these plants are taller and equally productive, use large pots (at least 12-14 inches deep). Ensure containers receive 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily and water regularly, as potted plants dry out faster than in-ground plantings.

When should I plant King Size Apricot flower seeds?▼

King Size Apricot should be started indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date, or direct sown in the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed. The variety takes 110-120 days from planting to flowering, so timing your sowing ensures blooms during desired seasons. In mild climates, you can sow directly outdoors in spring.

What makes King Size Apricot different from Tower Chamois?▼

King Size Apricot plants are taller and equally productive compared to Tower Chamois. Both have similar-sized blooms, but King Size Apricot flowers are a shade lighter with a warmer, creamier yellow tone. The key difference is petal texture: King Size Apricot has only slightly curled petals, while Tower Chamois petals are heavily curled inward toward the bloom's center.

How much space do King Size Apricot plants need?▼

Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation and room for their tall growth habit. Proper spacing promotes healthier plants, reduces disease pressure, and ensures each plant receives sufficient light and nutrients for maximum productivity and bloom quality.